Consumer Bureau's Director Confirmed After Long Delay

Nomination Advances After Years of Partisan Wrangling

WASHINGTON—The Senate confirmed Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, solidifying the agency's watchdog role after two years of partisan wrangling.

Mr. Cordray was approved by a 66-34 vote after clearing a key hurdle Tuesday when 17 Republican senators agreed to allow a confirmation vote to take place. The vote overcame longstanding objections by Republicans, who had refused to confirm anyone to run the CFPB without structural changes such as turning it into a commission, rather than an agency...